Low-GWP refrigerants options : an assessment of their performance and design applications.

This paper reviews the status of emerging low GWP refrigerants. It investigates the performance of the most promised refrigerants in A/C and refrigeration like R32, HFO blends and puts it into perspective with traditional low GWP options such as natural refrigerants. Drop-in experimental results with these refrigerants on scroll compressors are presented. The results show good performance with R32 regarldless of the fact that its high discharge temperature limits strongly its usage in warm climate temperatures or in heat pump applications without introducing additional cooling. HFO blends show good performance and for some, a displacement adjustment is necessary to meet HFC performance. Other aspects are addressed such as the need of new lubricants and compressor operating maps. Finally the main international standards under revision to include the new class A2L are reported.